The country of Monaco is associated with wealth and affluence. A host to all things fancies, be it the Monte Carlo Casino, Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, Yacht Show, or the Le Bal de la Rose, an annual ball instated by the famous Princess Grace of Monaco and attended by the crème de la crème of high society in the world.

Tagged as the second smallest country globally, Monaco comprises the world’s shortest coastline stretching less than 2.5 miles (4 km). Beneath the coastline lies the Nautical Nirvana, protected by the Institut Océanographique, a research center dedicated to marine conservation.

Institut Océanographique sits on a clifftop in a baroque building and contains an underground aquarium. The aquarium is a treasure trove of aquatic angels gleaming through the gigantic tanks. As you descend towards the dark subterranean stairway, sparkling marine life captivates you with its bioluminescence. Glowing corals, flaming planktons, and incandescent jellyfish allure you towards the bejeweled beauty beneath Monaco.

Giving company to the shining stars of the sea are the vibrant fishes painted in neon pinks, blues, greens, and yellows. Anemones and sea cucumbers tone down this brightness with their neutral shades and provide a perfect backdrop to spot splashy starfish, urchins, squid, snail, octopus, and sea horse. You will also find the famed Nemo (clownfish) and its colony unthreatened by sharks and predators.

Suttleswing sparkled as the sunlight fell on the yellow daisies in her ink blue dress. She pouted in front of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, unruffled by the scorching sun and posed with a gold human skull hovered by bronze butterflies in the backdrop that complemented her golden Dior eyeshade. This sculpture, called "Vanity," manifested the essence of Monaco and highlighted its exorbitance.

Throughout June 2017, the museum hosted an exhibition titled 'Borderline' that showcased eleven artworks by Philippe Pasqua, and Vanity was one of them. Another piece labeled 'L'Effet Miroir/ Mirror Effect’ was parked next to the front door and resembled the jaw of a megalodon, an ancestor of the shark. It could pass away as a mirror owing to its steel facade.

Inside the lobby, decorated with bohemian glass chandeliers and vitrines full of antiques, stood 'Golgotha' - a black olive tree made from bronze. A gigantic turtle steel skeleton named 'Santa Muerte' covered in ropes and fishnets was placed in the adjacent room.

A canopy of black Chantilly lace shaded the dinosaur skeletons in the auditorium under a squid-shaped glass chandelier. This sculpture was christened the 'Wheel of Time' and sobered down the bright gold interiors.

The auditorium echoed the aura of Prince Albert I, a former ruler of Monaco, who established the Oceanographic Institute to conserve and study the marine ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea.

Teal and blue wallpaper with gold embossed initials of Prince Albert I embossed in gold covered the auditorium walls.

Intricate wood carving embellished the window frames.

Artworks depicting voyage journeys colored with aqua blue and white were mounted on the wood ceiling in gold frames amidst the nest-shaped golden chandeliers. On the podium, golden pillars with crystal blue globes stood. A glass case below the platform displayed a miniature model of the museum building. Another showcase carried jewelry dating back to the 17th and the 20th centuries constituting a necklace, pendant, bracelet, and brooch made from a polished skeleton of red coral.

Overwhelmed by the interiors, Suttleswing ascended to the terrace and was shocked at the sight of a colossal steel shark suspended in the sky. It was a prodigy of Phillipe Pasqua tagged as 'Who should be scared?' Indeed, she was scared for a bit and headed towards the far end of the terrace.

Splashes of waves hitting the cliff attracted her attention, and as she drooped, her eyes popped out at the sight of larger-than-life sea urchins termed 'Soliel Noirs /Rock Cliff' sitting just above the water level on a cliff.

Moving upwards, she immersed herself in the calming blue Mediterranean view.

The sky seemed to enjoy the hide and seek of clouds and sun.

A fleet of yachts and ships sailed through the sea, and albatross flew in the sky.

Across the sea was a lush green lawn, and she descended from the terrace through a cobbled pathway that led to the ground.

The garden had oleander trees blooming with light-dark pink flowers. Rosy cheeks blushed at the sight of flowers, and the tiger's eye studs sparkled through her ears.

She took off her sandals to feel the carpet of grass and lounged under the shade of a palm tree. Abaft was the baroque building holding vintage lamp posts, and in front was the sea.

There were trees all around and grass with white wildflowers that resembled the ones in her dress.

The rocks and algae lay flat beneath the saltwater and transitioned into coordinated shades of beige, brown, teal, and blue.

Further across the sea was Monte Carlo, veiled by the clouds and waiting to be discovered.

Suttleswing got tempted by the city view and started walking towards the charming city.

On the way, she saw a Finnish cruise ship parked at the Fontvieille port and the passengers enjoying a Mediterranean swim amidst the view of Monaco clifftop cities and sea yachts.

Upon reaching Monte Carlo, right at the entry point, she encountered a bronze statue of five-time Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio with his Mercedes parked on the famous turn of the Monaco Grand Prix. Suttleswing got in the car and posed for a few pictures with the Argentinian driver.

Then she headed towards Brasserie de Monaco, the only microbrewery in Monaco, and ordered a chilled ginger ale. She enjoyed her drink amidst the spectacular scenery of white yachts navigating through the sea. The red and white colors of the Monaco flag waved at her from the gingerbread buildings facing the sea. The curved facade of the Hotel Hermitage almost hugged the Mediterranean Sea. Dapper gentlemen greeted her while she responded with her Santa Sangre smile that brought hibiscus to shame.

Post refreshment, she traversed through the streets, and her golden goggles turned beige and blue, mirroring the sea and the Royal Palace's ornate stone walls with carved-out angels, and its windows were huge and framed by detailed wood carvings and patches of colorful ceramic tiles.

Something twinkled afar and intrigued Suttleswing to identify the lit source, landed her in Casino square, where a convex mirror surrounded by red bell-shaped amaryllis flowers gleamed under the sun and projected the reflection of Monte Carlo Casino.

Suttleswing turned back and saw a magnificent structure with a mounted clock on the top showing 4 hours past 25 minutes from noon. A burgundy Maserati and bubblegum blue Aston Martin were parked right in front of it. The building designed by the architect of the Paris Opera House stood in full glory as of the first Casino in Monaco.

Next to the casino was a luxury shopping promenade with Salvador Dali-themed domes. Under these white domes were luxury shops like Chanel, Dior, Bvlgari, Alexander McQueen, and Miu Miu.

Adorning the white domes was a garden of red roses and needle palms that seemed to have shielded the delicate flowers under their strong green spikes like a knight in shining armor.

Sutlleswing left the roses to the palms and boarded a bus heading Menton and bidding adieu to Monaco.

Basking in the beauty of the Côte d'Azur on a bus ride from Monaco, Suttleswing arrived in the citrus city of Menton. Sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the green hills lay the Pearl of France. Menton experiences around 316 days of sunshine, making it an ideal place for cultivating lemons. Every year in February, Menton celebrates the Menton Lemon Festival, known as 'Fête du Citron', during which the city adorns orange and lemon figurines.

Hardly 8 miles away from Monaco, Menton used to be the summer capital of Monaco royalty. Also, the city touches the Italian border and is a melting pot of Italian and French culture. Furthermore, it houses impeccable artworks by Salvadore Dali and Picasso in its sculpture garden. The art scene attracted creative artists like Coco Chanel and Yeats.

The bus dropped her in front of Hotel de Ville, a yellow and blush building with a wedding hall designed by Jean Cocteau. Next to it was a shop selling handmade flowers crafted from bright voile fabric, white poppies, yellow sunflowers, and even red roses. Kids played on a carousel ride while the adults savored supper under the purple blooms of a Jacaranda tree. Pixie women checked out the quaint shops while a cute little munchkin jumped around the cobbled pathway leading towards the baroque Saint Michel church.

Passing through the old town, Suttleswing reached the Plage du Fossan, relaxed and calm sand and pebble beach where people were unwinding and enjoying a good swim with their pets and family. She entered the Mediterranean, played with the water, and admired the horizon and the clouds that seemed to be goofing around the Italian hills. She treated herself to spectacular views of Jean Cocteau Museum and Marche des Halles as she sat right across the Mediterranean sea in a Brasserie. A large pizza with roasted aubergine and pepper was her dinner, and she relished every bit of it with the chimes of the sea waves.

Post-dinner walk led her to a small village called Roqueverne, which had the subdued charms of Monaco, beautiful garden area, and ornate buildings. Sutlleswing found the perfect end to an unforgettable day as she spotted a motorcade of Vintage Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. She was thrilled to see the curated canvas of classic cars that ranged from yellow, olive green, steel grey, and champagne.